Anne C. Shumard

To view the livestreaming of Anne's service please click here on Friday, September 4, 2020.  The service will begin at 1:30 pm.

Anne C. Shumard, 101, passed away on Sunday, August 30, 2020.  She was the daughter of the late Thomas and Susan Conboy (Hardesty) and wife of the late Roland S. Shumard.

Anne was born on February 15, 1919 in Monroe City, MO, a small railroad town and farming community.  She was raised on a farm devastated by crop failures and the economic fallout of the depression, but they felt blessed because the farm provided food for the family as well as neighbors in need. Never having a car, travel was by foot or horse and buggy.  After high school, with the help of a U.S. Marshall who lived in Monroe City, Anne secured a job in St. Louis where she met her future husband, Roland, a chemist at Monsanto.  She later found work as an executive secretary at a defense contractor, Remington Arms, in Connecticut. There she began a close friendship of more than 60 years with Louise Bickley.

As World War II was raging and her fiancé was being called to active duty, they married at a small Catholic service in the chapel in Camp Forrest in Tullahoma, TN. Lt. Shumard was promptly sent to Europe where he fought through France, the Battle of the Bulge, and then spent a year of occupation in Germany.  Back in St. Louis, their three children were born. Employment opportunities brought the family eventually to West Chester in 1957 where Anne raised her family. Her best friend, Louise and her family had also moved to West Chester, so the friendship was renewed. When her children were grown, Anne went back to work as administrative assistant at Westtown School and then at the department of human services with Chester County.

Anne was a proud member of The Greatest Generation. As such, she met each challenge head on, never complaining or despairing. Her faith in God sustained her. She often told her children that the good Lord never abandoned her, and provided all the strength necessary with each difficult moment to move forward.

Anne is survived by her daughter, Marilyn S. Rochow (Thomas) and son, Richard L. Shumard (Donna), as well as her grandchildren, Anna and Sarah Shumard.  She suffered the loss of her son, John to cancer in 2010.

A Mass of Christian Burial will be held Friday, September 4, 2020, 1:30PM at Saint Joseph’s Church, 332 Manor Ave, Downingtown, PA 19335 with visitation prior from 12:30PM to 1:15PM. All guests must wear a face mask as well as maintain social distancing.

In lieu of flowers, contributions may be made in Anne's memory to either St. Joseph's Church, at the address listed above or Holy Rosary School, Attn: Sister Sue Walker, 415 Locust St., Monroe City, MO 63456.

To plant a beautiful memorial tree in memory of Anne C. Shumard, please visit our Tree Store.